Daughters of Promise

Yesterday’s devotional brought an all-time high number of responses. The topic hit a nerve. I challenged each of us to ask God for something big and know that He can still perform miracles. I acknowledged that it is hard for me to hold on and not cave. Faithlessness invites me to give up on God. Now, I know the verse, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16 I learned it as a kid but learning the words and understand the meaning can be many decades removed.

There are situations that can appear absolutely hopeless. Evidence wants to prove that nothing changes because of my faith. Sometimes, things get worse. The pain of watching everything regress nearly shuts me down. The fatigue that accompanies long-term stress wears on me and causes me to look ten years older than I am. Numbness beckons to me like a drug and promises me rest. The thought of my heart sliding into hopeless oblivion is attractive. I just want the striving to cease.

Is this where you are today? You’ve been wrestling with God for a long time over one single thing. The more you pray, the more things seem to decline. To continue to keep your heart alive to hope and faith appears futile. You’re fast approaching the line where quitting pretends to be the smart thing to do. Dreaming is painful. God appears to be cruel as He withholds the blessing you seek.

This is what it is to live in the shadows. And I have. But let me testify that I have seen powerful prayers answered within the course of a week. The deliverance was glorious and there was no way I could have predicted its arrival. The ticking of heaven’s clock was indiscernible. While I waited, there were moments in the journey that I collapsed into faithlessness. It was a lonely place and I didn’t stay there long. Only prevailing in prayer brought the blessing and I’d like to believe that I have greater stamina in future spiritual battles because I’ve learned not to give up.

Over what issue have you taken hold of God in prayer today? How long have you labored? Hang on. Dig your fingers into the fabric of his robe and don’t let go. Today could be the day He speaks a word and prison bars open wide.

I am willing to prevail in prayer but can’t sustain it without Your grace. In Jesus name, Amen

4 thoughts on “Hold On – Push Through Faithlessness”

//CHRISTINE,this came on a day it was really needed, my friend. Going through some tough trials over here and I have b ecome weary!! This was the energy pill I needed. See you in September There’s a song like that :)

“I learned it as a kid but learning the words and understand the meaning can be many decades removed.”
When I read those words, I was reading my life in Christ.
Because we “know” God’s Word (or hear it every Sunday) does not mean we automatically have faith in that Word. I understand this is possible from Hebrews 4:2, “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” Mental assent (agreement) and faith are NOT the same thing.
I grew up hearing and knowing a lot of and about God and His word and believed that it was True. However, it was years before He moved me to a place in His vineyard where He could breathe His Spirit and Life upon that Word and make it alive in my spirit; where I could learn to put faith in what He said despite what my eyes, senses and experience relayed. I moved from “mental assent/mental agreement” to faith.
I read a plaque that stated, “Faith is not believing that God will, Faith is knowing that God will.” For years I lived in mental assent and allowed outcomes to dictate if God’s Word was true or not. I had it twisted. God and His Word are True no matter what the outcome. God had to tell me, “Because I don’t answer your prayer the way you want Me to answer it, or the way you predetermine I should answer, you say I didn’t answer your prayer. That is not true. I answer according to My will for your life, not the current situation; I answer according to what is best for you.” I thank Him for loving me enough to correct me!
I am greatly blessed and encouraged by your ministry and boldness to proclaim God’s Truth. I am praying for you!